They need to look for an attorney who has a fair amount of experience dealing in grey divorce or divorce in the golden years. A good competent attorney can identify property and debt, talk about alimony, and, even if there is still a teenager or minor child involved, discuss visitation and child support.
The attorney’s role is not strictly here’s the law, here are your options, let’s go. A person in the golden years is not just looking at where am I today, but where am I going to be five, 10, 20 years from now and am I going to be okay? You need to have an attorney who is willing to go down that path with you. You need an attorney and support staff that’s going to take your frequent calls, they’re going to listen to you, they’re going to guide you to the right resources to help you get answers to your questions or help you with the logistics of life.
Some attorneys have the patience for that and some don’t. It’s really important because this is going to be the last life event other than your own demise. You have to have the right fit, you have to have the right personality compatibility, but the lawyer also has to have the knowledge not just of the law but of all the other aspects of how you’re going to continue to live.
Mary Ann Burmester is a family lawyer practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has more than 25 years of experience in family law. To learn more about Mary and her firm, NM Divorce & Custody Law LLC, visit www.nmdivorcecustody.com.
Add A Comment